All the young arms

[O]ff to the best start is right-hander Austin Ross, an eighth-rounder out of LSU. Ross, 22, was the Brewers’ minor-league pitcher of the month for April and has continued to excel in May.

Through seven games (six starts), Ross is 4-1 with a 1.85 earned run average. In 43 2/3 innings, he has allowed only 28 hits and 12 walks while logging 45 strikeouts.

Brewers minor-league pitching coordinator Lee Tunnell has been impressed with Ross, on and off the field.

“From the first time you meet him, he’s very professional,” said Tunnell. “He presents himself well, takes his job seriously and has a vision to be a major-league pitcher. He’s intelligent and focused.

“So, if you ask if we are surprised by his success, no we are not surprised at all.”

…

Right-hander Jimmy Nelson, a second-rounder out of Alabama, and righty Matt Miller, a fifth-rounder out of Michigan, also are pitching in the Timber Rattlers’ rotation. But perhaps the most interesting pitcher there is right-hander Tyler Thornburg, taken in the third round out of Charleston Southern.

Because he is smallish – 5-foot-10, 185 pounds – and has an unusual delivery, Thornburg drew comparisons to Tim Lincecum before the draft. And he does have a live arm, throwing his fastball in the mid-90s with regularity.

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